WEBVTT IS CHALLENGED BY STEVE GORMAN. >> ALL OF THIS IS NEW FOR STEVE GORMAN. >> HELLO THERE. >> THE 24-YEAR VETERAN OF THE COUNCIL BLUFFS FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS HE NOW WANTS TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY, KNOCKING ON DOORS DAILY, MEET THE PEOPLE HE'D LIKE TO REPRESENT IN THE IOWA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. >> THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THEIR DOOR STEP, THEY'RE MORE APT TO TELL YOU WHAT'S BOTHERING THEM. >> GORMAN SAYS HE'S BOTHERED BY THE LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE STATE. THAT'S WHY, IF ELECTED, HE WANTS TO BRING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADD SERVICES, NOT TAKE THEM AWAY. >> AND WE CAN'T CLOSE DOWN MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTES IN THE STATE OF IOWA ANY LONGER, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ACCESS AND ENOUGH COMMITTAL BEDS THE WAY IT IS NOW. >> GORMAN FACES AN EXPERIENCED INCUMBENT, MARY ANN HANUSA. >> FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO MAINTAIN THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE BROUGHT IN A BUDGET EVERY YEAR THAT DOES NOT SPEND MORE THAN THE STATE TAKES IN. >> THE GROWTH COMMITTEE CHAIR LED THE EFFORT IN A RENEWABLE CHEMICALS BILL THAT IS NOW LAW, GIVING COMPANIES TAX INCENTIVES TO PRODUCE ETHANOL IN IOWA. >> IT PUTS IOWA ON THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IN TERMS OF BIOCHEMICAL PRODUCTION, IT OFFERS ALL MANNER OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN OUR UNIVERSITIES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT CREATES JOBS. >> BOTH CANDIDATES PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATION, FOLLOWING THE

An incumbent Republican is facing a political newcomer in the battle to represent most of Council Bluffs in the Iowa house.

The focus falls on District 16. Republican Mary Ann Hanusa is challenged by Democrat Steve Gorman in the Nov. 8 race.

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For Gorman, all of this is new.

The 24-year veteran of the Council Bluffs Fire Department said he wants to service his community in a different way as he works hard to meet the people he is hoping to represent in the Iowa House of Representatives.

“Being on a doorstep talking to people, especially their doorstep, they’re more apt to tell you what’s bothering them,” Gorman said.

Gorman said he is bothered by the lack of mental health resources in the state, so if he were elected, he wants to bring the legislation that would add services, not take them away.

“We can’t close down mental health institutes in the state of Iowa any longer. We don’t have enough access, enough committal beds the way it is right now,” Gordam said.

Gorman faces experienced incumbent Hanusa, who said she has served the taxpayers well since 2011.

“For the last six years I’m really proud of the fact that we have worked hard to maintain that fiscal responsibility, we have brought in a budget every year that does not spend more than the state takes in," Hanusa said.

Hanusa, who is also the Economic Growth Committee Chair, led the effort in a renewable chemicals build that’s now law, which gives companies a tax incentives to produce ethanol in Iowa.

“It puts Iowa on the tip of the spear in terms of biochemical production it offers all manner of research and development for our universities and most importantly it creates jobs,” Hanusa said.